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South Florida Fishing: Temps in the high 70s, weekend fishing is coming up

Captain Alan Sherman forecasts fishing Deerfield Beach to Key Largo & Flamingo to Cape Sable, including Pompano Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, & Homestead. Updated Feb. 11-15

South Florida Fishing: Temps in the high 70s, weekend fishing is coming up
South Florida Forecast

Capt. Alan Sherman covers Deerfield Beach to Key Largo & Flamingo to Cape Sable, including Pompano Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and Homestead. Contact info: shermana@bellsouth.net; (786)436-2064; www.getemsportfishing.com

Feb. 11-15, 2026

Deerfield Beach to Key Largo & Flamingo to Cape Sable

NOAA Weather is forecasting winds to be out of the east at 5 to 10 knots late Friday and early Saturday. Late Saturday winds pick up to 15 to 20 out of the southeast. Sunday southeast at 20 to 25 and then south at 20 to 25 knots.

Pompano Beach, Port Everglades, Haulover, Government Cut to Ocean Reef

Recent shrimp runs in and around the ocean inlets continue to keep the tarpon bite going strong. Along the beaches a few pompano, mackerel, bluefish, and bluerunners are being caught when the water is not too clear. The offshore bite has picked up with a big push of sailfish that has shown up. Showering schools of ballyhoos and flying fish are being chased and eaten by sailfish, mahi, and blackfin tunas all ar the same time. This action is happening from the outer reef out to 300 feet of water. A few blue marlins have been hooked and caught this past week. Daytime bottom fishing over many of the wrecks has produced catches of vermillion, yelloweye, and American red snappers.   Nighttime reef fishing has been fair for snappers, bluefish, grunts, and toros. Low tide at Government Cut Friday late afternoon will be at 11:42.

North Biscayne Bay

Clear and frigid waters in the bay has made fishing very tough. If you start late in the day, and give the waters a chance to warm up, your chances of catching g some sea trout, snappers, barracudas, and jacks increase. The night bite along the bay bridges for tarpons continues to be good. High tide at Indian Creek Saturday morning is at 7:41.

South Bay

Warmer conditions have the bonefish back up on the flats of South Bay. High water in the morning will have the bones on top of many of the shallow flats. The channels have been slow as has much of South Bay with water temperatures starting out in the upper 60’s in the morning. The closer you get to the ocean the better the fishing gets. High tide at Soldier Key on Saturday will be at 6:58 in the morning.

Flamingo

Florida Bay waters continue to be cold. Hit the channels adjacent to the flats with live shrimp on jig heads or Cajun Thunder floats. Fishing with these rigs will get you sea trout, black drum, sheepshead, redfish, and snook. Big black drum, big redfish, big snook, and cobias are being caught over hard bottom structures and next to the markers. The backcountry waters have been ever cold. Snapper, redfish, small Goliath groupers, sea trout, and sheepshead are taking live shrimp on a jig head or a live shrimp fished under a float. Hit the island shorelines that have a deep under cut ledge, muddy bottom flats,, and the river and creek banks. Low tide at Flamingo in Florida Bay on Saturday will be at 9:38 AM and at the mouth of Ponce De Leon Bay low tide is at 6:20 AM.

By Captain Alan Sherman

Recommended


www.getemsportfishing.com

305-757-5503 or 786-436-2064

Previous reports

Feb. 5-8, 2026

Deerfield Beach to Key Largo & Flamingo to Cape Sable

With outside temperatures dipping into the mid 30’s for two days and then mid 40’s the next day there is a strong possibility that we will see another cold water fish kill in Biscayne Bay, Flamingo, and the freshwaters of South Florida. Let’s hope not. NOAA Weather is forecasting winds to be out of the northwest at 15 to 25 knots late Friday and cooler. Saturday winds are forecasted to be 15 to 20 knots out of the north  before decreasing to 10 to 15 knots out of the northeast. Sunday winds are forecasted to be 10 knots out of the east.

Pompano Beach, Port Everglades, Haulover, Government Cut to Ocean Reef

After a week of very cold weather and gusty winds the only good fishing report was at night for shrimp and tarpons. Large shrimp were running most of the week at night. The shrimp were most active around the west side of Biscayne Bay to Government Cut. When the shrimp swam under the bay bridges and into the ocean inlets, lots of tarpons were there waiting to eat them. The offshore fishing reports were few so hopefully with improving conditions by Saturday we will see a return of action from kingfish, wahoo, mahi, blackfin tuna, and sailfish. Expect these fish to be feeding along the outer reef. I got out on Wednesday with a blacked out live well of pilchards. The bottom fishing was non existent. There was a good slick with a nice broken weedline in 700 feet of water and this line held a decent amount of 20” Mahi. A few wahoo were caught in 200 feet of water. Blackfin tuna were biting offshore of Government Cut and so were the big sharks. Low tide at Government Cut Friday will be at midnight.

North Biscayne Bay

Very cold water shut down almost all the fishing in North Bay. First, no one dead out because of the cold and two the fish didn’t want to bite anyway because of the cold. I would expect anything you might want to target in the bay won’t be feeding till late in the morning when things start to warm up. Also some of the best inshore fishing likely will be in the deepest parts of the bay. Low tide at Indian Creek Saturday morning is at 7:43.

South Bay

Fishing South Bay likely will be very slow due to cold water. Hopefully by Sunday we will see bonefish return to the shallow flats of South Bay. Hopefully fishing in the Finger Channels will turn on again with warmer conditions on Sunday. Low tide at Soldier Key on Saturday will be at 7:13 in the morning.

Flamingo

Frigid waters in Florida Bay and the backcountry will have most fish either stunned by the cold or in the deepest parts of the bays. Blackdrum, redfish, and sheepshead have a high tolerance when it comes to cold water. Fish live shrimp on the bottom for these fish. High tide at Flamingo in Florida Bay on Saturday will be at 6:42 AM and at the mouth of Ponce De Leon Bay high tide is at 4:49 AM.

By Captain Alan Sherman

www.getemsportfishing.com

305-757-5503 or 786-436-2064

 
Previous reports

Jan. 29, 2026

Deerfield Beach to Key Largo & Flamingo to Cape Sable

NOAA Weather is forecasting winds to be out of the northwest at 10 knots Friday afternoon and then picking up to 15 to 20 knots  in the evening as a big cold front approaches. Saturday winds will be west at 20 to 30 knots and then northwest and  getting colder. Sunday it will be colder and winds continue to be very strong at 20 to 30 knots out of the northwest and Sunday is the full moon.

Pompano Beach, Port Everglades, Haulover, Government Cut to Ocean Reef

The weather gods have not been friendly this past week and it looks like that will get worse going into the weekend. With deteriating  weather conditions starting late Friday and then proceeding through the weekend, it might be a good excuse to spend some time with the family doing something off the water. If you can’t help yourself and must go fishing then proceed with caution. The offshore waters close to shore could be fishable for maybe a Spanish mackerel or two but if you should lose power while fishing, winds to over 30 knots could send you sailing offshore in minutes. Be careful.  The Oceanside piers could be the most sensible place to try and catch something.  High tide at Government Cut Friday night will be at 6:20

North Biscayne Bay 

Tarpon fishing at night has been the most productive fishery recently. Shrimp runs and hungry tarpons have made for plenty of tarpons in the air. Look for the tarpons to be most active at night along the inshore bay bridges. Floating a live shrimp through the shadow lines will get you a tarpon bite if you pick the right bridge. Falling water temperatures might shut these fish down by Saturday night. High tide at Indian Creek Saturday morning is at 8:09.

South Bay

Fishing the western shorelines might be the only fishable pieces of water this weekend. The shorelines on the west side of the bay might provide some action from ladyfish, jacks, and maybe a sea trout or two. High tide at Soldier Key on Saturday will be at 7:26 in the morning.

Flamingo

Florida Bay likely will be a mess this weekend with the big winds forecasted. Add a drastic drop in water temperatures and I would expect the fishing to be dead till it calms down and warms up again next week. The back country will provide a little protection from the wind but if water temperatures plunge like they did in 2010 we might see our fishery take a big hit from stunned fish and eventually dead fish. Let’s hope that our fish are smarter this time and high tail it to the deepest waters in the backcountry. Low tide at Flamingo in Florida Bay on Saturday will be at 9:28 AM and at the mouth of Ponce De Leon Bay low tide is at 6:32 AM.

By Captain Alan Sherman

www.getemsportfishing.com

shermana@bellsouth.net; (786) 436-2064

Previous reports

Jan. 23-25, 2026

Deerfield Beach to Key Largo & Flamingo to Cape Sable

NOAA Weather is forecasting winds to be out of the southeast at 10 to 15 knots late Friday. Saturday expect winds to be out of the east south east at 10 to 15 knots and Sunday south to southeast at 10 to 15 knots. 

Pompano Beach, Port Everglades, Haulover, Government Cut to Ocean Reef

Weather conditions were all over the place this past week. Cold and windy, then windy and now much more comfortable. Fishing from the Oceanside piers and jetties resulted in catches of a few bluefish, pompano, mackerel, and bluerunners. The offshore bite was better but still a challenge. Kite fishing with frisky live baits in depths from 80 to 300 feet of water providing action from sailfish, mahi, and a blackfin tuna and kingfish. Fishing your baits in areas of artificial reefs increased your chances of getting more bites. Bottom fishing when the conditions allowed resulted in some nice catches of golden tilefish. The tilefish were biting in 600 to 900 feet of water over muddy bottoms. Closer to the reef, yellowtail and mutton snappers were eating whole and cut baits fished near the bottom. Shallow wrecks and the deeper reefs is where these fish were being caught. Tarpons were biting in the ocean inlets early, late, and at night during the outgoing tides. Live shrimp was the top bait for the tarpons. Shrimp have been running at night. Low tide at Government Cut Friday will be at 5:21 PM.

North Biscayne Bay 

The inshore fishing continues to be challenging but with some patience there are some fish to be caught. Sea trout continue to be scattered along the edges of the flats in North Bay. The trout have been feeding along the edges of the flats that have a good tidal flow. Fish baits that resemble shrimp or small baitfish for the best results. A few jack crevalles, ladyfish, pompano, mackerel, and bluefish are scattered in the bay. Tarpon have been feeding along the bay bridge shadow lines at night. The best action happens when shrimp are running. Low tide at Indian Creek Saturday morning is at 5:43.

South Bay

Fluctuating water temperatures have had mist of the bonefish in South Bay feeding in the deeper waters outside of the shallow flats. Chumming with bits of shrimp in an area that you think might have bonefish can make it easier to get a bonefish on the end of your line. The Finger Channels are a good bet for some rod bending action from small snappers, groupers, jacks, grunts, mackerel, pompano, and bluefish. Anchoring and chumming and then fishing shrimp, pilchards and squid near or on the bottom will get you some action. Small barracudas have been holding near the Stiltsville houses and can be caught with live baits or imitation fish baits. Low tide at Soldier Key on Saturday will be at 6:59 in the morning.

Flamingo

With a warming trend this weekendnlook for snook, redfish, blackdrum, and sea trout to be moving from the channels to the flats of Florida Bay. Bouncing a jig head tipped with a soft plastic shrimp tail along the bottom is a good way to get a fish on the end of your line. The shoreline es ali f the coast will see some good fish looking for something g to eat. Fish a live shrimp under a Cajun Thunder float along the tree lined shorelines will get you a nice redfish, blackdrum, or snook. Pop those corks a lot for quicker action. If water temperature get past the 70 degree mark in the open waters of the Gulf, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, pompano, tripletails, and cobias will return to the areas that are loaded with crab trap buoys. Fish a live shrimp under a float or on a jig for these fish. On the inside expect snook, redfish, and trout to be in the muddy areas of the bays. Sight fishing could be worthwhile. A well placed cast with a soft plastic might get you a reactionary strike. High tide at Flamingo in Florida Bay on Saturday will be at 6:37 AM and at the mouth of Ponce De Leon Bay low tide is at 11:20 AM.

By Captain Alan Sherman

www.getemsportfishing.com

Contact info: shermana@bellsouth.net; (786)436-2064

Previous reports

Jan. 16-18, 2026

Deerfield Beach to Key Largo & Flamingo to Cape Sable

NOAA Weather is forecasting winds to be out of the east at 5 to 10 knots late Friday. Saturday winds are forecasted to be out of the northeast at 5 to 10 knots. Sunday expect windy conditions with winds from the northeast at 15 to 25 knots.

Pompano Beach, Port Everglades, Haulover, Government Cut to Ocean Reef

It was a crazy week of weather with two fronts early in the week and then another at the end of the weekend bringing some big winds. The cinder conditions shut down much of the fishing but Spanish mackerel, bluefish, jacks, and bluerunners were biting off the Oceanside piers and jetties. The offshore bite continues to be tough with the changing weather and conditions. Sailfish are being caught near artificial reefs inside of 300 feet of water. Flying a kite and fishing frisky large live baits was the best way to get the sailfish. A few mahi, wahoo, blackfin tunas, and kingfish ate baits intended for the sailfish. With a new moon conditions this weekend we might see a decent wahoo bite first thing in the morning. Bottom fishing both day and night was tough due to changing weather conditions and some big currents. High tide at Government Cut Friday night will be at 6:55.

North Biscayne Bay 

The best bite was from sea trout. Catching the trout required a lot of casting of artificial baits to locate the fish. Once you made a hookup you could catch a handful before they moved on or quit biting. The trout were eating jig heads tipped with soft plastics and shrimp or pilchards fished under a Cajun Thunder float. I found more trout along the edges of the flats that had a good tidal flow. Tarpon fishing was good at night but that will change with water temperatures dropping. High tide at Indian Creek Saturday morning is at 8:53.

Flamingo

With water temperatures dropping this week, I would expect that snook, redfish, sea trout, black drum, and sheepshead would be stacked up in the Florida Bay channels, the creeks and in the canals from East Cape north to Shark River. Fish your shrimp baits deep and slow for best results. The backcountry waters will be chilly so look for snook and redfish to be sitting in the mid till the waters warm up. Low tide at Flamingo in Florida Bay on Saturday will be at 10:35 AM and at the mouth of :10Ponce De Leon Bay low tide is at 9:04 AM.

Capt. Alan Sherman, 786-436-2064, www.getemsportfishing.com

 
Previous reports

Jan. 2-4 Report 

Deerfield Beach to Key Largo & Flamingo to Cape Sable

NOAA Weather is forecasting winds to be out of the west at 5 to 10 knots late Friday then turning northwest at 10 to 15 Saturday through Sunday. There will be a full moon on Saturday. Expect strong tides and possibly a strong wahoo bite.

Pompano Beach, Port Everglades, Haulover, Government Cut to Ocean Reef

Tarpon fishing has been good at night in the ocean inlets, especially on the outgoing tides when the shrimp are moving. A few Spanish mackerel have been biting off the Oceanside jetties and piers. The offshore bite has been slow. Mostly due to the lack of fish in our area. A few kingfish, bonitos, Spanish mackerel, mahi, and barracudas. Sailfish have been biting. The sailfish have been chasing schools of ballyhoos and flying fish on the inside of the outer reef and outside the reef. Look for frigate birds feeding on the surface to help you locate where the action is. These sailfish are looking to eat a ballyhoo or flying fish so make sure you have something like this on your boat when the time comes to use them. Blackfin tunas have been biting over the deeper wrecks and humps. They have been eating live pilchards and vertical jigs. On the bottom over wrecks and humps outside of 300 feet of water yelloweye and vermillion snappers have been eating cut squid. The night bite has been fair with a mixed bag of snappers, bluefish, grunts, toros, and jacks that are being caught on cut bait. The outside of the reefs have been producing the best action. High tide at Government Cut Friday night will be at 7:36.

North Biscayne Bay

Sea trout have been the most active fish in the bay. The trout are scattered throughout the bay. The fish are scattered but biting throughout the day. Drifting the shallow flats is the best way to locate the fish. Depending on the wind, stsrt your drift at the deepest part of the flat and let the drift take you up on the flat. Cast the NLBN jig heads tipped with a soft plastic baitfish tail or shrimp around the boat taking mental bites to where the strikes the coming from then fish these areas hard. Lots of small jacks are being caught with the trout. Snook, jacks, snappers, and barracudas have been biting live pilchards up in the Dumfoundling Bay area. Fish these walls, docks, and bridge pilings for these fish. High tide at Indian Creek Saturday morning is at 9:36. 

South Bay

In-between the cold fronts bonefish are being caught. The action is taking place on the beginning of the incoming tides. Look for the bones on the mainland flats south of Dinner Key, around the Arsenicker Keys, and along the Oceanside flats. The Finger Channels have had small snappers and jacks to catch. Spanish mackerel have been roaming South Bay. Trolling Rapala X Raps is a good way to locate the mackerels. High tide at Soldier Key on Saturday will be at 8:53 in the morning.

Flamingo

With Florida Bay waters cooling down, look for snook, redfish, blackdrum, and sheepshead to be along the channel edges. Fish a live shrimp on the bottom for these fish.  Sea trout can be caught over the grass flats of Conchie Channel, First National Bank, and the banks around Sandy Key. You can catch the trout with a live shrimp fished under a Cajun Thunder float. Spanish mackerel can be chummed to the boat and then caught with live shrimp. Look for the mackerel in ten feet of water south and west of Sandy Key. The bi-catch in this area might be snappers, tripletails, cobia, and ladyfish. Snook, sea trout, redfish, and Goliath groupers can be found in the creeks, canals, and rivers, from East Cape north to Lostmans River and into Shark River, Oyster Bay, and Whitewater Bay. Low tide at Flamingo in Florida Bay on Saturday will be at 11:01 AM and at the mouth of Ponce De Leon Bay low tide is at 7:54 AM.

Capt. Alan Sherman
shermana@bellsouth.net
(786)436-2064
www.getemsportfishing.com







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